Persecution is an occupational hazard in the Christian faith. The world, by nature, is opposed to God. We love our sin, God hates our sin. God loves us, great, we love us, but we love our sin. It's no surprise, then, that the one time God entered physically into His creation in the form of a mortal human being, the first thing sinners did was attempt to kill Him, and eventually, though by His will and not theirs, they succeeded.
After they killed Him, He got back up. He was completely undefeated, and now He's back to His immortal glory. The world can't beat Him. But it still wants to. Now here's the catch: if you're a Christian, you will start to resemble Him. This makes you a target for the same thing that put Him on a cross.
When we hate someone, or something we can't touch, it becomes normal to hate the very image of it. Democrats*, for example, hate America, so they frequently burn, or generally desecrate the American flag. Christians are like the flag, and unbelievers are like Democrats. Unbelievers may try to kill Christians, just as Democrats burn the flag.
Persecution may not always come in the form of lethal violence, but Jesus warns us that our faith, if it is real, won't be endlessly pleasant. Even a really lucky Christian, born and raised in a special bubble, can eventually expect that bubble to burst as his faith grows. Jesus even warns us that members of our own family might turn against us. But if this happens, don't be afraid. Their fight isn't even really with you, it's with Jesus. If you've become the target of persecution, it's likely because you're doing something right. You're either bearing His image in a way that puts you on Satan's dart board, or you're being given the opportunity to do so. Whichever it is, don't pass it up.
*I want to note that while I have used Democrats in this example, that does not mean I believe all Democrats are evil, or generally any different than any other people. I use them because the party in general is a visible picture of hatred which currently exists in America. As always, it is the belief of Bible Brain that people are not ideologies, all people are sinners, and all people are in need of Jesus.